Posted on Jan 31, 2023
Missouri activists say water permit issued for Ste. Genevieve silica mine will allow pollution
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Environmentalists have asked the state Administrative Hearing Commission to overturn a water permit for a silica mine in Ste. Genevieve. Residents and environmentalists say the permit would allow the mine to release contaminants in the local water supply.
Environmental groups are challenging a Missouri Department of Natural Resources decision to issue a water permit to a silica mine in Ste. Genevieve.
The department issued a water permit for NexGen Silica in December. In an appeal of the decision to the state Administrative Hearing Commission, the Sierra Club, Friends of Hawn and Operation Sand said the Department of Natural Resources should not have approved a water permit for NexGen Silica without a public hearing. Environmentalists have asked the commission to overturn the permit.
The groups also claim the mine would pollute water and contaminate nearby natural resources.
Environmental groups are challenging a Missouri Department of Natural Resources decision to issue a water permit to a silica mine in Ste. Genevieve.
The department issued a water permit for NexGen Silica in December. In an appeal of the decision to the state Administrative Hearing Commission, the Sierra Club, Friends of Hawn and Operation Sand said the Department of Natural Resources should not have approved a water permit for NexGen Silica without a public hearing. Environmentalists have asked the commission to overturn the permit.
The groups also claim the mine would pollute water and contaminate nearby natural resources.
Missouri activists say water permit issued for Ste. Genevieve silica mine will allow pollution
Posted from kcur.org
Environment
Water
Mining and Metals
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 1
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."The challenge comes weeks after the Missouri Mining Commission revoked NexGen Silica’s mining permit after the administrative hearing commission said the application didn’t include a full list of property owners with a vested interest. Administrative hearing commissioners also said NexGen didn’t have a legal right to mine the land.
The proposed 249-acre mine would sit near Hawn State Park and Highway 32. Last summer, the Ste. Genevieve Health Department passed a health ordinance that required the silica mine to operate at least a half-mile away from water sources and residents. But Thompson worries the ordinance may not survive legal challenges.
“In case the health ordinance is struck down, we want to make sure that we're fighting in every area that we can to get this mine not to come in,” Thompson said. ”We cannot rely on the courts to uphold that health ordinance at this point because if the health ordinance falls and the mining permit and the water permit go through, then NexGen could proceed with their mine imminently.”
..."The challenge comes weeks after the Missouri Mining Commission revoked NexGen Silica’s mining permit after the administrative hearing commission said the application didn’t include a full list of property owners with a vested interest. Administrative hearing commissioners also said NexGen didn’t have a legal right to mine the land.
The proposed 249-acre mine would sit near Hawn State Park and Highway 32. Last summer, the Ste. Genevieve Health Department passed a health ordinance that required the silica mine to operate at least a half-mile away from water sources and residents. But Thompson worries the ordinance may not survive legal challenges.
“In case the health ordinance is struck down, we want to make sure that we're fighting in every area that we can to get this mine not to come in,” Thompson said. ”We cannot rely on the courts to uphold that health ordinance at this point because if the health ordinance falls and the mining permit and the water permit go through, then NexGen could proceed with their mine imminently.”
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